Adjustable trimming attachment for calendering machine



June 13, 1961 J. T. CASULLO 2,987,943

ADJUSTABLE TRIMMING ATTACHMENT FOR CALENDERING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Joseph T. Casu/Io 1N VEN TOR.

BY WW 15 m June 13, 1961 J. T. CASULLO ADJUSTABLE TRIMMING ATTACHMENT FOR CALENDERING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 mm K M, w m w m N A U E I mw ww mm mm 0 1 6 m I M b M p 8 mm mm m vw Y 9v mm R Q R illnited States This invention relates to the art of calendering sheet material and more particularly to an attachment to remove excess substance from the sheet material that is being calendered.

In the manufacture of sheet material which includes the step of calendering, particularly in the manufacture of fabric that is treated by the application of plastic thereon, it is customary to trim the sheet material after calendering because the compound applied to the fabric runs over the edges. This invention makes it possible to omit the trimming step by stripping the fabric edges as the calendering machine applies the substance to the fabric.

More particularly, it as an object of the invention to provide an attachment for -a calendering machine which has a needle adapted to engage the edge of the fabric as it passes through the calendering machine and strip the edges of excess compound, for instance vinyl plastic. The needle is carried on a carriage but is adapted to move parallel to the axis of rotation of the calendering machine rolls so that as the fabric shifts slightly between the ends of the rolls, the needle travels therewith.

The invention is capable of being embodied in a very practical and inexpensive, mechanically simple attachment that can be applied directly to the calendering machine, for instance on one of the roll ends.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the calendering machine fitted with an attachment consisting of two units exemplifying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic side view of a part of a calendering machine with the attachment of the invention applied thereto.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the attachment.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE .5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a part of the attachment.

In the accompanying drawings there is a fragmentary part of a calendering machine 10 shown so as to illustrate the attachment 12 in an operative position. The calendering machine includes a considerable amount of equipment that is unshown. However, the illustration has rolls 14, 16, 18 and a shaft 20 that is parallel to the three illustrated rolls. A part of the machine frame 22 is shown in FIGURE 1.

Attachment 12 consists of two identical units 24 and 26, one mounted near one end of the calendering machine and the other mounted near the other end of the calendering machine. Each, though, is disposed alongside of the sheet material 28 that is being processed by the calendering machine. Each unit is mounted adjustably on shaft 20, one method of adjustment involving a clamp block 30 having an opening 32 through which shaft 20 is passed. Setscrew 34 is threaded in the clamp block and engages a part of the surface of shaft 20 thereby holding the clamp block in a selected adjusted position on shaft 20. Unit 24 is shown in detail in the various figures. In addition to the clamp described above, there is a mounting linkage 38 on which frame 40 is supported. The mounting linkage is composed of a first link 42 that is attached to the clamp block, for instance by bolt 44. Second link 46 is attached by pivot pin 48 to the end of the first link 42. The pivotal connection can be made by having the end of link 38 bifurcated as at 50 (FIGURE 4) and by having the reduced end of the second link 46 fitted between the furcations, and pin 48 passing through aligned holes therein.

Link 46 has a resilient stop 56 operatively connected with it and with first link 42. The resilient stop consists of a rod 58 that is pivoted by pin 68 to second link 46 and that is passed through a passageway 62 extending diagonally through first link 42. Spring 64 is concentrically disposed on rod 58, seating on a part of link 42 and stop washer 66 near the pivoted end of rod 58.

Frame 40 has a bottom frame member 70 together with end walls 71 and 72 which can be bolted or otherwise fastened to the ends of frame member 70. A single rail 73 extends between and is secured to the end walls 71 and 72 and is spaced from the frame member 70. Carriage 74 is slidably mounted on the rail 73 and consists of a body '75 having a passage 76 extending completely therethrough. Rail 73 extends through passage 76 and through the two bushings 77 and 78 that are located in the counter-bores at the ends of passage 76.

There is an upwardly opening channel 79 in the frame member "70 and located parallel to rails 73. A wheel 80, which may be a conventional anti-friction bearing, is attached by spindle 82 to the body of the carriage 74 and is located in the upwardly opening channel 79 to serve a guide function. The wheel is rather loosely mounted in the upwardly opening channel so that there is practically no friction generated in the movement of the carriage from one end of its rail 73 to the other.

Any suitable means may be used to fasten the frame 40 to the upper end of the second link 46. For instance, bolt 84 can be used. Regardless of the method of attachment, it is important that the frame 40 be supported in such a manner that it will present the needle 86 to a surface of one of the calendering machine rolls, for instance, roll 14. Needle 86 is separably mounted in a socket 88 that is in the carriage body 75.

As the fabric is fed through the calendering machine (see FIGURE 2), the calendering machine applies a layer of substance, for instance, vinyl plastic, onto the sheet material. Spring 64 holds the needle supporting structure in such position that the end of the needle is either in contact with the roll 14 or very close to it. The side surface of the needle abuts the edge of the substance laden fabric and as the fabric passes through the calendering machine (FIGURE 2) the needle strips the excess from one edge of the fabric. Unit 26 which is companion to unit 24, strips the opposite side edge of the fabric simultaneously with the stripping that is achieved by unit 24. There is a tendency for the material in the calendering machine to shift slightly from one side to the other, and this is compensated automatically in the attachment by having the carriage slide on its rail in a direction lengthwise of the calendering machine rolls.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling with the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In a calendering machine which has a roll, a shaft approximately parallel to said roll and located adjacent to said roll, an attachment to strip the excess substance that is applied to the sheet material being calendered, said attachment comprising a frame, a carriage carried by said frame and adapted to move generally parallel to said roll, a stripper attached to said carriage and adapted to en gage the sheet material at one edge thereof, means carried by said shaft for adjustably mounting said frame adjacent to said roll, said mounting means including a clamp, a first link, means at one end of said link connecting said link to said clamp for longitudinal adjustment of said link toward said roll, a pivot having an axis approximately parallel toysaid roll, a second link, said pivot coupling the adjacent ends of said links, means connecting the outer end of said second link to said frame, and resilient means reacting on said linkage and constituting a yielding stop for said links to keep said stripper adjacent to said roll, said frame having a rail, said carriage being mounted on said rail, said frame having a channel, and guide means on said carriage disposed in said channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,651,837 Richey Dec. 6, 1927 1,652,149 Pappano Dec. 6, 1927 1,926,340 Kniep Sept. 12, 1933 2,208,994 Mabon July 23, 1940 2,626,665 Chamberlain Jan. 27, 1953 

